Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage
"The Voice of the Tempter."
Faust - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Die Erde ist mein!
— Mephisto
Context:
This line is spoken at the very beginning of the film, as Mephisto, wreathed in darkness, challenges the Archangel's assertion that man is good and that the Earth belongs to God. It sets the stage for the entire narrative conflict.
Meaning:
"The Earth is mine!" This quote, delivered during the opening confrontation with the Archangel, encapsulates Mephisto's arrogance and ambition. It establishes the stakes of the cosmic wager that will determine the fate of humanity.
Das Wort, das du vergaßest... Liebe.
— Archangel
Context:
At the end of the film, after Faust and Gretchen have perished in the fire and their spirits ascend, Mephisto claims he has won the wager. The Archangel refutes him with this line, revealing that Faust's act of sacrificial love has rendered the pact void and ensured his redemption.
Meaning:
"The word that you forgot... Love." This is the film's ultimate thematic statement, delivered by the Archangel to a defeated Mephisto. It signifies that love is the one power superior to evil, capable of breaking any demonic pact and ensuring salvation.
Ich biete dir das höchste Glück: Jugend. Greif zu!
— Mephisto
Context:
Mephisto says this to the elderly Faust, who is lamenting his old age and inability to experience life's pleasures. This offer is the turning point that leads Faust to agree to the pact, abandoning his scholarly life for a chance to be young again.
Meaning:
"I offer you the greatest happiness: Youth. Seize it!" This line is the core of Mephisto's temptation of the aged Faust. It preys on Faust's despair and regret for a life unlived, equating happiness not with wisdom or piety, but with the fleeting pleasures of youth.